Flood defences approved for Ham Lane

(l-r): Councillor Tina Tuohy, Ward member for Ham with fellow ward councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of the Council at Ham Woods

One of Plymouth’s favourite green spaces is set for some investment to tackle flooding.

Ham Lane, a footpath which runs the length of Ham Woods, is often prone to flooding in the winter.

In particular, a 60 metre, low-lying stretch of the path can spend up to 50 days of the year under water.

Now, £120,000 will see improvements made to ensure that the path is available to use all year round.

Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “I’m delighted that this lovely part of Plymouth is getting the investment it deserves.

“We want our green spaces to be accessible to everybody all of the time and this investment will go a long way to making this possible in Ham Woods.”

Ham Woods is cared for by the Council with the much valued and dedicated support of the Friends of Ham Woods.

Over the past five months, the Friends have monitored the water course and found that it flooded the path every day during wet weather in the winter with deeper flood events have been recorded as being up to 1m deep.

As a result of the flooding, mud builds up on the pavement causing a significant slip hazard, especially for cyclists.

This investment will fund the raising of the path by around 65cm, to nearly four metres above sea level and will provide protection against flooding for at least 30 years.

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